CHAPTER 4 - Where They Finally Meet

(Third Person POV

The morning in Chandigarh hadn’t fully awakened but they had.

The hospital ground was alive with movement.

Vehicles lined up.

Medical crates stacked.

Cold-weather gear distributed.

“Why does this feel illegal?” Rohan whispered, adjusting his oversized jacket.

Ishita didn’t even look at him.

“Because you’ve never done anything this serious before.”

“Excuse me,” he said, offended, “I once survived three back-to-back night duties.”

“Barely,” Meera added softly.

Kabir stretched, hands in pockets.

“I like this already.”

“Of course you do,” Dev muttered. “You think everything is fun until it isn’t.”

Prisha walked in, holding a thermos.

“Emergency coffee,” she announced.

Aarav took it instantly.

“You are the best human here.”

She smirked.

“I know.”

At the front

Sasha stood beside a senior figure.

Dr. Mehta.

Calm. Experienced. Observing everything.

“Final check,” Dr. Mehta said, his voice firm but composed.

“Medical kits?”

“Done.” Dev

“Cold gear?”

“Checked.” Meera

“Documentation?”

“Ready.”  Ishita

Dr. Mehta nodded.

Then his gaze shifted to Sasha.

“You’ll lead the on-ground medical coordination.”

A brief pause.

Sasha didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good,” he said.

“Remember.....conditions will not be in your favor.”

“I understand.”

He studied her for a second then gave a small approving nod.

“Everyone present?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Aarav

Sasha gave a single nod.

“Move.”

The first phase Flight from Chandigarh.

Inside the airplane .The energy shifted.

From movement

to stillness.

Aarav sat by the window, staring out.

“I’ve never seen clouds like this,” he murmured.

Rohan leaned over.

“If the plane drops, just remember....scream confidently.”

Aarav blinked.

“That’s not helpful.”

Kabir chuckled.

“Relax. You’ll land before your panic peaks.”

Meera watched quietly.

Her fingers lightly gripping the armrest.

Naina whispered,

“It’s beautiful…”

Outside

the clouds stretched endlessly.

Peaceful.

Sasha sat quietly.

While Dr. Mehta flipped through reports beside her.

“Altitude sickness,” he said calmly.

“Watch for it.”

“I will,” Sasha replied.

“Also,” he added, “you’ll have to take quick decisions there.”

A pause.

“Don’t wait for approval when time matters.”

Sasha nodded.

“I won’t.”

Too peaceful.

Prisha nudged Sasha.

“You’re thinking again.”

Sasha didn’t look at her.

“I always do.”

“Dangerous habit.”

A small smile appeared

just for a second.

Hours later

The airplane descended.

The view changed dramatically.

Mountains rose like giants.

Snow cutting across their peaks.

Sharp.

Cold.

Unforgiving.

“Okay…” Rohan whispered.

“That’s not normal.”

“No,” Dev said quietly.

“It’s not.”

Landing was just the beginning.

From there a convoy waited.

Rugged vehicles.

Drivers already prepared.

“Now the real journey starts,” Prisha muttered.

The roads weren’t roads.

They twisted.

Climbed.

Dropped suddenly.

Cold air seeped in.

Aarav clutched the seat.

“I think I’m going to pass out.”

“You’re not,” Ishita said calmly.

“You’ll regret it if you do.”

Rohan laughed.

“First mission—survive the drive.”

Kabir looked out.

“Worth it though.”

The mountains stretched endlessly.

Silent.

Massive.

Sasha sat at the front watching.

Observing.

Every detail.

Meanwhile....

Hours earlier....

A military aircraft cut through the sky.

No chatter.

No chaos.

Only discipline.

Samar broke it first.

“So this is our ‘rest period’.”

Sameer didn’t look up.

“You complain too much.”

“I express my feelings,” Samar corrected.

Anirudh sat still.

Silent.

Rudraksh leaned back.

“Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Agastya remained near the window.

His gaze fixed outside.

Sharp.

Even here

he was alert.

They landed in Leh-Ladakh nearly seven hours earlier.

The cold hit instantly.

Samar stepped out and froze.

“Okay… that’s illegal.”

Sameer smirked.

“Welcome to reality.”

Agastya stepped forward.

Unaffected.

“Move.”

The base stood firm

minimal but structured.

Barracks.

Tents.

Equipment lined precisely.

“Inspection first,” Agastya said.

His team moved.

Hours passed.

Work done.

Area secured.

Then....

a convoy approached.

“Medical unit,” Sameer said.

Back to the medical team

After landing they shifted to a convoy.

Rough terrain.

Sharp turns.

Cold wind cutting through.

“This is not a road,” Aarav whispered.

“It’s a test,” Dev replied.

Prisha laughed.

“Welcome to Leh-Ladakh.”

They arrived.

Vehicles stopped.

Doors opened.

Reality hit.

Sasha stepped out.

Then....

Dr. Mehta beside her.

His presence steady.

Authoritative.

Across the area

Agastya stood.

Watching.

Their eyes met briefly.

Still.

Unspoken.

Then both looked away.

Agastya stepped forward.

“Captain Agastya Singh Thakur,” he introduced himself.

“I’ll be coordinating with your team.”

Dr. Mehta responded first.

“Dr. Karan Mehta.”

He gestured slightly toward Sasha.

“She will be leading the medical operations here.”

A small pause.

Agastya’s gaze shifted to Sasha.

She met it calmly.

“Dr. Sasha Shergill.”

Professional.

Clear.

Agastya nodded.

“We’ve arranged barracks and a designated medical area.”

He turned slightly.

“Viper, assist them.”

Rudraksh stepped forward.

“Yes.”

Sameer added,

“We’ll help with unloading.”

“Everyone, start moving,” Sasha instructed.

Dr. Mehta added calmly “Organize before sunset.”

And just like that both teams began working.

Soldiers lifting crates.

Doctors arranging equipment.

Interns running between tasks.

“Careful with that,” Dev said.

“I got it,” Samar replied.

“Hopefully,” Rohan muttered.

Kabir leaned toward Sameer.

“So… do you always work in this weather?”

Sameer smirked.

“You get used to it.”

“Good to know,” Kabir said.

Dr. Mehta observed quietly occasionally stepping in guiding

correcting.

While Sasha handled the flow.

Confident.

Precise.

At a distance

Agastya watched briefly.

Noticing.

Then turned away.

Two leaders.

Two worlds.

Now working side by side.

💗

🌸🌸🌸

Their introduction was formal, their roles clearly defined

but something about that moment felt far from ordinary.

Tbc💙.....

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